India – Religion and Political Dichotomy

August 11, 2020

India – Religion and Political Dichotomy

Part 1 – Identity Politics

Padmini Arhant

Dissertation on religion, sainthood and anachronism.

Religion – The interpretation in Indian language Dharm meaning principle is the foundation to inner peace and resolve to deal with any challenges in life.

Unfortunately, religion misused as the axis of power. It is convenient for those in politics to assert  fundamentalism and sectarianism subverting religion to remain in power despite colossal failure in meeting basic expectations in governance beginning with economy, health crisis and national security allowing enemy incursions viz. China in the Himalayan and north eastern Indian territory violating sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi focus to establish Hindu state touted Hindu Rashtra stoke unnecessary sentiments anchored on polarization though Hindus’ economic and social status are not better or different from non-Hindus such as muslims and various religious social denominations in secular India.

The wanton endeavor  is nothing more than a distraction to shift public frustration and dissatisfaction on status quo. The economic struggles among the middle class, lower income and the poor regardless of social and religious category have reached crescendo in the absence of effective economic plan.

In fact the economic status nationwide has significantly declined with soaring unemployment in formal and informal sectors well before the pandemic onset. The lack of prudent economic policy plummeted economic growth, drowned business opportunities leading to economic descend in the middle class representing the large consumer base and raised poverty among the lower income segments and the poor bereft of any income only worsened in the ravenous corona virus consuming lives at a rapid rate.

Socially, the caste orientation predominantly for political advantage by all parties in Indian politics desperately rely on divisive strategy. Nonetheless, the Hindutva ideologue RSS run BJP government heavily invested in identity politics targeting muslims in religion besides christians and other faiths on the brink of isolation. RSS radicalism does not spare Hindus either.

Among Hindus the so-called Dalits and overwhelming population grouped on caste basis i.e. the untouchables in modern era relegated to scheduled caste (SC) and scheduled tribe (ST) while the rest deemed backward caste (BC) and other backward castes (OBC) in the proud caste system ironically existing since the dawn of independence now buttressed under PM Narendra Modi’s rule.

There is no doubt BJP’s heightened nationalism missing in action in defending Indian frontiers against China resulting in at least 32 Indian defense personnel martyrdom in the past months on treacherous terrain above 14,000 feet with ongoing standoff is off political radar directing national attention on fundamentalist doctrine via temple construction on embattled site in Ayodhya and controversial national education policy enforcing mandatory learning of Hindi and Sanskrit, the latter until lately exalted as God’s language and declared exclusive in communication between the self-proclaimed upper caste brahmin priests and deities in Hindu temples.  

The caste hierarchy have long oppressed and suppressed the natives and indigenous people along side colonial brutality in pre and post independence India. The resistance to any improvement let alone abolition of abhorrent casteism brimming more than ever even during the former UPA government under non-Hindu and non-Indian leadership of Sonia Gandhi, whose next of kin and political heir Rahul Gandhi never shied away from bragging about the family background in self-reference to presumptuous upper caste brahmin wearing Janeu, the supposedly sacred thread adorned by brahmin males which in turn is an identity theft gotten away in misrepresentation over centuries semblance to contemporary event and conduct among egocentric power fame and fortune mongers in society.

As for Rahul Gandhi’s attempt to garner the so-called upper caste Hindu votes, the family tree comprising muslim ancestry grandfather Feroz with adopted surname Gandhi, the spouse of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is never acknowledged as such in any domain for political expediency in the shadow of Congress party pseudo secularism.

The other national political party – RSS controlled BJP under PM Narendra Modi’s stewardship has made quantum leap grinding the caste and religion based politics to 5G level inversely squashing the SC,ST, OC and OBC caste structure to outcasts demonstrated in mob lynching and marginalization in voting rights, decreasing reservation or quotas through introduction of parallel concession to so-called upper castes in middle and lower economic strata. PM Narendra Modi’s political campaign in national election was falsely launched as OBC (other backward caste) candidate yet backed by hardline extremists RSS pledged to pedigree adapted from colonial patronage.

The circumvention and maneuvering on religion and caste politics, the long held tradition among national and state / provincial political factions in India cashing in on vote banks for political mileage is the main reason behind casteism and faith related stigma hindering India’s unity and progress.

The deceptive narrative through government and politics operated media and news organizations muzzling the voice of democracy claiming majoritarian rule favored promoting Hindutva statehood especially amid dismal economic, social and national security environment affecting citizens across the spectrum is analogous to belief on camel through a needle’s eye. 

The trading and bargaining on political opposition luring opponents and judiciary authorities with political memberships in parliament and government positions typically aimed at democracy and constitution demolition, BJP’s preferred act in exemplifying the will their way i.e. aggression and violence could be classified RSS heritage.

Indian incumbent PM Narendra Modi government activities resemblance to Israel’s democratic version firmly proclaimed as the Jewish state setting precedence and opposition compromised with political incentives in the long serving contentious PM Benjamin Netanyahu administration with alternate  Prime Minister Benny Giantz strange combo leaderships could not be mere coincidence. The current political trend under the guise of democracy inhibiting religious distinction in the separation of church and state endanger republic status anywhere. 

The same would apply to Islamic republics as well in the definition of democracy confused with religious fundamentalism exerting authority transforming the choice to rudimentary theocracy.

The topic will continue on sainthood and anachronism linked to latest developments on Lord Ram temple and civilization degradation.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant 

Author & Presenter

PadminiArhant.com

Prakrithi.PadminiArhant.com 

Written by Padmini Arhant · Filed Under Featured, Indian Sub-Continent, International Politics 

Comments

Got something to say?

You must be logged in to post a comment.